Shine On, St. Pete

NOMAD CLAN/2025 3rd Ave. S.

PHOTOS/ST. PETE ART ALLIANCE

BY CINDY STOVALL

As a point of general consensus, murals are the artistic signature of St. Pete. They are evidence of the creative vibrancy of our beautiful ‘Burg for the all the world to see. They’re the invitation to look deeper – to see all the amazing things that are being created behind the massive concrete canvases in our many galleries, studios, neighborhood enclaves and museums.

Murals have become an integral part of who we are as a city. So, it should come as no surprise that the Shine Mural Festival, produced and hosted by the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance, has become one of the biggest and most anticipated events of the year. What’s incredible is that this meteoric rise has come about in just five short years. This year’s festival opens on October 18 and hosts related events in partnership with many other businesses through the big finale and reveal on October 26.

Originally a collaboration of several incredibly innovative local artists, the Shine Mural Festival has grown at an exponential pace with the facilitation, funding and infrastructure provided by the Arts Alliance. That, and because of the shear quality of the work. The images are vibrant and meticulously curated. They are exquisitely detailed. They are as evocative as they are varied, always stimulating contemplation and conversation.

Murals are also the gift that keeps on giving. Regular guided bicycle tours and walking audio tours hosted by Florida CraftArt and narrated by a local movie star (Eugenie Bondurant), go on regularly throughout the year. The tours have figured prominently in the city’s marketing and tourism plan and they support the Alliance’s efforts to keep Shine growing.

And the people come - from around the corner, and around the world.

As I set out to write this piece, I had the privilege of speaking with two individuals who have been involved since the inception of the festival. Interestingly enough, the role of both pioneers has completely changed and evolved since that first amazing year.

A Muralist

Palehorse aka Chris Parks

One of the original organizers of Shine is artist Palehorse, AKA Chris Parks. In the early years, Chris devoted himself to organizational and curatorial responsibilities that have contributed to Shine’s current success. This year, for the very first time, Palehorse will be a participating muralist. “I’m very excited to be a part of Shine as an artist,’” says Parks. Palehorse has been

a successful commercial illustrator for some time, working with industry heavyweights such as Mini Cooper, FX, Nike and even National Geographic for the 50th anniversary of the moon landing! Educated at Ringling School of Art & Design, Parks has traveled the world with his wife Michelle (also a Shine organizer), and through travel, the Palehorse perspective of spirituality and the influence of Southeast Asian and Mexican cultures was born. It is reflected in his non-commercial artwork and has become central to his creative point of view. “I really love ancient myths and stories,” says Parks. “At first it was strictly aesthetic, but it evolved into a more spiritual presence in my life.”

Looking around the Palehorse Studio in DTSP, those influences are apparent in every multimedia piece. There are carvings, sculpture, paintings, prints and so much more. There is even a Palehorse newsletter with cultural insights and guided meditations.

It will be fascinating to see the Palehorse mural in the Warehouse Arts District during the Shine Mural Festival. For more information: www.palehorsedesign.com

An Organizer

Jenee Priebe

Jenee Priebe is the director of the Shine Mural Festival for the second year. Her love affair with Shine began in 2015 as she focused her photography hobby on the murals and posted them on an Instagram page named for her son Jonah. “I was hooked from the very beginning and started learning everything I could about the murals and their creators. By the second year, I became a full-on volunteer for the festival. I just wanted to be a part of it.”

As the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance became involved under the leadership of John Collins, and the festival continued to grow, increased funding made it possible to bring someone on full time to manage Shine. “It was an all-volunteer operation for a time,” says Priebe, “but through my early and continued involvement, I was fortunate enough to be given this great opportunity.” Her enthusiasm for Shine is apparent and palpable. And the plans are ambitious.

Community Projects

Bekky Beukes

Come Out St. Pete Mural In the Grand Central District, St. Petersburg artist Jay Hoff will work with LGBTQ youth to produce a community mural that celebrates diversity in St. Pete. Jay’s fine art is created using LEGO® toy building bricks, and the community mural will be inspired by this fun medium.

Boys & Girls Club at Royal Theater In the Deuces District, Shine will partner with the Boys & Girls Club at the Royal Theater to produce a mural on a wall of the historic Quonset hut. Artist Brian McAlister and students from the Gibbs High Mural Club will paint alongside participants of the Boys & Girls Club program. Built in 1948 to serve as one of the only movie theaters for African Americans, the historic Royal Theater still operates as a social and cultural landmark on the Deuces.

Festival Events

St. Petersburg establishments including Station House, Morean Art Center, Intermezzo, Green Bench Brewing, and Body Electric will host an exciting lineup of Shine events. Shine Finale: Inside Out St. Pete will feature up to 200 portraits covering a massive building in South St. Pete. These portraits will be representative of our richly diverse community.

Mural Tours Guided walking mural tours take place every Saturday from 10 to 11:30 am starting from Florida CraftArt, 501 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Reservations are required by calling (727) 821-7391. Cost is $19 adults, $11 children ages 6-18. Bicycle mural tours had not been finalized at publication time.

All About Shine Festival

PHOTOS/SCITY OF ST PETE

Shine director Jenee Priebe provided us with background and interesting facts about the festival.

What has been the goal of SHINE over the past 5 years? “As early as 2012, the Alliance has established itself as an umbrella organization dedicated to creating a platform for all of the arts in St. Pete to be supported. John Collins has done an amazing job creating opportunities, providing funding through grants and sponsorships, fostering legislative advocacy favorable to the arts and so much more. The goal has been to illuminate the power of art using urban canvasses and public spaces. There is no profit motive, just art for art’s sake. It’s really the purest way to transform a city.”

What other benefits have been realized? “Shine has really been great for local business. Increased foot traffic via festival events, related tours and tourism has resulted in increased visibility for local shops and therefore, helped to boost their bottom line. In addition, murals beautify the cityscape and act to break down barriers. Murals help to create a sense of community and unite the city.”

Do Shine artists get paid? “Yes. Increased corporate sponsorship and individual donations have allowed us to pay participating muralists. We pay for supplies, lifts and meals for all, as well as travel and accommodations for visiting artists. We don’t want them worried about anything but the work and having the best possible experience. Additionally, Visit St. Pete/Clearwater has provided a grant to Shine for the first time. The arts are an economic driver for tourism. We are even seeing similar events spring up in surrounding areas.”

How does the selection process work? “Well, to be honest, it’s as difficult as it is exciting. We have a selection committee that evaluates proposals, design sketches and the artist’s history and body of work. We consider experience in the ability to complete the work in the allotted time and even to withstand the elements. Every year, increasing numbers of applications come in and choosing becomes more and more challenging. Sometimes amazing work is left out. But all things being considered, it’s a good problem to have. Shine does offer one open call spot after the selection process is complete to create an additional opportunity.”

Are there any restrictions for the artists? “Once a design is selected for inclusion, we give the artists full creative control. We don’t want them to feel there are any limitations in expressing their vision. There is a stipulation in the contract, however, that applies to both artists and businesses providing a ‘canvas’ – The mural must be allowed to remain up for at least one year. After that, as with any public art, the owner may choose to paint over the piece. That’s the thing about murals. They aren’t necessarily meant to be permanent.”

How many murals will be created this year? “There will be 16 total murals - five by international artists, four by national artists, and seven by local artists. In addition, there will be 12 ‘corner canvases’ – those are the power boxes that used to be blights on the landscape. Now, one by one, they can be found, beautifully painted, all over the city. Chad Mize, one of Shine’s founding artists, will curate these corner canvases.”

ZULU PAINTER/701 9TH ST. S

Shine Mural Festival October 18-26, 2019 www.shinemuralfest.com

2019 Shine Artists

Low Bros (Germany) - Christoph and Florin Schmidt, Berlin based brothers known as the Low Bros, bring their Retro Futuristic style highly influenced by 80’s and 90’s culture. Low Bros’ work explores the juxtaposition of identity in a digital age.

Shok-1 (England) - London based artist has been exploiting the technical possibilities of a spray can since the 1980’s. He’s best known for pioneering the X-ray technique, influenced by his formal background in science.

Taj Francis (Jamaica) - Taj Francis brings his distinctive reggae and hip hop influenced aesthetic. Inspired by a mix of Japanese manga, vintage vinyl, baroque paintings, pop art and his own cultural upbringing.

George Rose (Australia) - Melbourne artist best known for her brightly colored typography-based murals.

Paola Delfin (Mexico) - Mexico City based artist is best known for her monochromatic exploration of the female form. Through meticulous technique, Delfin portrays the concepts of beauty, strength, and femininity. She has painted murals in more than a dozen countries.

Drew Merritt (Los Angeles) - Drew Merritt, best known for his expressive and realistic portraiture work, strives to create empathy through the exploration of emotions.

Morning Breath (New York City) - The illustrious duo of Doug Cunningham and Jason Noto are back for another round of SHINE. The Brooklyn based artists, featured in SHINE year 1, lost their eye-catching wall to sprawling new development along Central Avenue. Morning Breath’s boundary pushing illustrative style has produced an impressive portfolio spanning more than 20 years for a wide range of clients including Ray-Ban, Velocity, Jay Z and Vans.

Taylor White (Raleigh) - North Carolina based artist brings her bold, kinetic style inspired by the fluid movements of the human body in dance. Her work has been shown internationally from Atlanta to LA to Melbourne.

Palehorse (St. Petersburg) - With more than a decade of experience as a professional illustrator and fine artist, Chris Parks creates highly detailed work that draws influence from his roots and an ongoing fascination for Southeast Asian and Latin culture, mythology and spiritual practices.

Jimmy Breen & Anthony Freese (St. Petersburg) - Co-owners of Wax & Hive, Breen and Freese collectively bring over two decades of professional creative experience. Specializing in illustration and graphic design, Breen and Freese have worked with many notable clients including Cardi B, Blake Shelton, Blooming Brands, and Hunger & Thirst Group.

Princess Smith (Tampa) - Tampa based fine artist best known for her compelling, often provocative portraiture highly influenced by her youth spent in one of Los Angeles’ most violent neighborhoods.

Leo Gomez (St. Petersburg) - Gomez combines his talents as a designer and illustrator in the art of lettering to create stunning artworks. Leo has worked with companies including Starbucks and Publix.

Reda3sb (St. Petersburg)- Reda3sb is an urban artist, illustrator, and Mexican designer with more than a decade of street art experience.

Sea Walls: Artists for Oceans The SHINE St. Petersburg Mural Festival is partnering with Hawaii based nonprofit PangeaSeed Foundation to produce two ocean conservation themed murals. One ground mural will be painted at the Northshore Pier by St. Petersburg’s popular Vitale Brothers. The other mural will creatively highlight St. Petersburg’s successful fisheries management system in the first mural project nationwide funded by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Association (NOAA). It will be painted by Portland based artists Blaine Fontana and Plastic Birdie (Jeremy Nichols).

September/October 2019

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